JKIA gets final audit ahead of U.S direct flights

An American security agency has commenced a week long audit of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) ahead of scheduled flights between Kenya and the United States of America.

The final inspection by the U.S Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expected to give the final clearance for airlines to operate direct flights between the two countries.

The TSA carried out an initial audit in October last year with the final assessment keen on ensuring arriving and departing passenger segregation is maintained while security procedures will also be under scrutiny.

The government has been stepping up efforts to modernize JKIA ahead of the inspection.

Three cabinet secretaries earlier this month confirmed the revamping of the airport’s security system manned by the national police and the harmonization of services at the airport.

Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia remains optimistic that the inspection will be a success even as national carrier Kenya Airways plans to have its first commercial flight to the U.S in October.

“We have already had the first audit and after the final audit which hopefully after completion goes well then we shall be able to now say that indeed that in October KQ (Kenya Airways) will fly to the U.S,” Mr Macharia said in a past interview.

Kenya Airways announced plans to operate daily flights between Nairobi and New York from October 28.

JKIA was last year given Category One status with the final audit expected to grant the last point of departure status.